Abstract
In this paper we bring up-to-date the results of an earlier inquiry into the adoption and use of urban models by planning agencies in the United States. In particular, we are concerned here with the continued application of the models once adopted. Are they incorporated into the routine analytic apparatus of the agencies? For what purposes are they used? The reasons for concern with such questions are many. The undertakings are expensive, using considerable amounts of skilled professional as well as computer time, and often they supplant alternative modes of analysis. We need to ask whether the adoption of models and their subsequent use justify the expense.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes and References
Pack, J.R., 1978, Urban Models: Diffusion and Policy Application, Regional Science Research Institute, Philadelphia, Penn.
State of the art is defined as the analytic possibilities envisioned by the original model developers. Whether, in fact these objectives could be achieved with the models is a difficult issue to resolve. (See Pack, op. cit., Chapters 2 and 8.)
Memorandum of January 26, 1979 from King Subregional Staff of the Puget Sound Council of Governments, “1990 Forecasts of Population and Employment”.
Formal documentation is not available on these analyses. They have been described briefly to me in a letter from Jan Pilskog, Associate Planner, Land Use Planning/Research, PSCOG, July 8, 1980.
Pack, J.R., op. cit., 253.
Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, 1979, Population Projections for the Miami Valley Region: 1980–2000, A Technical Report, Miami, Florida.
This process is nicely documented, including the formal techniques, the estimated equations, the actual sub-regional forecasts, in Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 1979, Cooperative Forecasting: Round II Summary Report — 1979, Washington, DC.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pack, J.R. (1983). The Failure of Model Use for Policy Analysis in Regional Planning. In: Batty, M., Hutchinson, B. (eds) Systems Analysis in Urban Policy-Making and Planning. NATO Conference Series, vol 12. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3560-3_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3560-3_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3562-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3560-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive